Oakland A’s starting pitcher, Dallas Braden, has been placed on the 15-day DL with some stiffness in his left shoulder. He left the game against Detroit Saturday with this stiffness in his shoulder. So far it does not appear to be serious but no major tests have been conducted on the shoulder.

Now the question is who do the A’s move into that fifth spot in the rotation? My guess is it will go to Tyson Ross. Bobby Cramer or Josh Outman are possibilities but after the trade the A’s made today I have to go with Ross.

What trade you ask? Well, the A’s traded with Toronto and received reliever David Purcey. In return the A’s gave back minor league relief pitcher Danny Farquhar, who was acquired when the A’s traded Rajai Davis to the Blue Jays in the offseason. So with that move I just did the math and figured if the A’s were adding a big league reliever it means one of the A’s relievers must be going somewhere. That someone and somewhere has to be Ross to the fifth spot in the rotation. If the A’s brought up Cramer or Outman then they would have to send a player down. So unless that player being sent down is Purcey that move would make no sense and why trade for a guy you are just going to send down.

As good as Braden is I am excited to see Ross start. So far this season he has looked pretty good. I can see him keeping that spot nice and warm for Braden when he returns.